Eyeing another disqualification, PTI turns focus on Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: After successfully leading case against former defence minister Khawaja Asif that led to his disqualification from office in Iqama case, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is now eyeing to get another top PML-N leader and country’s Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal disqualified.

It is reported that PTI chairman Imran Khan himself took the decision to move against Ahsan Iqbal during a meeting in Islamabad on Thursday.

Minister for Interior and Planning, Development & Reforms Ahsan Iqbal is also known to possess an iqama (work permit) for a Madina-based company.

Last year, PTI leader Babar Awan had said his party would seek Ahsan’s disqualification from public office under Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution, similar to the petition filed against Asif.

PTI leader Abrar-ul-Haq, who contested the 2013 general elections against Iqbal in Narowal, is expected to file an application in the Islamabad High Court.

Furthermore, a copy of the iqama and a statement by Ahsan Iqbal on social media site Twitter that he possesses an iqama, but had revealed it his nomination papers, will also be presented as evidence in the case.

It may be noted that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and foreign minster Khawaja Asif were also disqualified for life on similar circumstances for failing to disclose an iqama for UAE-based companies.

In July last year, it was found that Iqbal possesses the foreign work permit.

“I worked in Madina Munawarah 2004-06 afterwards retained Iqama without receiving any compensation for frequent travel hence no illegal act,” Iqbal had said in a Twitter message.

In a statement issued during that period, a spokesman for the planning and development ministry said Mr Iqbal had served as an adviser to the governor of Madina from 2004 to 2006 on a digital economy project.

It claimed that the minister had not taken any salary for the project since 2006, adding that he had declared his Iqama in his ‘documents’ in 2013.